Tour de France Champ Contador Cleared of Doping Charges

james startt

(Photo by James Startt)

<p>In what can only be described as an astounding turnabout, the Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) today cleared Alberto Contador of any wrongdoing regarding his positive test for clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour de France.</p>
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<p>As a result, he retains his third Tour title and is authorized to return to racing immediately.</p>
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<p>Just weeks ago, the same federation, in accordance with Spanish sporting laws, proposed to Contador a one-year ban. In the details of that proposal, the federation said that although Contador demonstrated that he did not knowingly take clenbuterol, as an athlete he is nevertheless accountable for any substances found in his body.</p>
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<p>Contador immediately rejected the proposal and appealed with additional documentation. But with the final verdict due this week, the ruling took an unlikely turn when Spanish President Jose-Luis Zapatero came out in defense of the three-time Tour winner.</p>
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<p>&ldquo;There is no legal reason to sanction Contador,&rdquo; the president said via his own Twitter account.</p>
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<p>Over the weekend, other Spanish government officials backed Contador and called into question the ruling.</p>
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<p>According to sources close to the affair, Contador&rsquo;s lawyers flushed out the details regarding the absorption of clenbuterol through food contamination, underlining a similar case in table tennis in which Germany&rsquo;s Dimitri Outchakov was recently cleared on clenbuterol charges due to food contamination.</p>
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<p>In addition, it has been reported that Contador&rsquo;s lawyers demanded that he be cleared on a technical error in the protocol of the affair.</p>
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<p>According to article 24.2 of the Spanish constitution regarding the right of the accused to be informed, and Contador&rsquo;s lawyer claimed this right was not upheld.</p>
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<p>In its official press release, the Spanish federation authorized Contador to return to racing immediately.</p>
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<p>He could race in the Tour of Algarve, which starts Wednesday.</p>
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<p>Suddenly it appears that Contador could well defend his Tour de France title this summer. There is some speculation too that the Spaniard will target the Tour of Italy.</p>
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<p>Upon learning of the news, Contador&rsquo;s lawyer, Andy Ramos, told the Associated Press: &ldquo;Justice has been served.&rdquo;</p>
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<p>Contador himself has yet to make an official statement.</p>
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<p>Although the decision can be appealed by the International Cycling Union, as well as the World Anti-Doping Agency, the timeline for the appeals and hearings are such that Contador will be allowed to race in the Tour.</p>
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<p>Barely an hour after the press release from the Spanish federation was issued, the UCI responded with its own press release, saying: &ldquo;The UCI reserves the right to conduct an in-depth study of the reasons behind the decision before expressing its opinion.&rdquo;</p>
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<p>It has 30 days to officially appeal the ruling.</p>